Published on StarDate Online (https://legacy.stardate.org)

Home > Changing the Universe

Changing the Universe [1]

A star that astronomer Edwin Hubble viewed 100 years ago this month changed our concept of the universe. The star, M31-V1, changes brightness in a regular pattern that astronomers can use to calculate the star's distance. Hubble's observations (at lower right, with M31-V1 labeled "var") demonstrated that the star's home, the starry disk known as M31, was a separate galaxy and not a mote of matter within the Milky Way Galaxy. That proved that there are myriad galaxies in the universe, greatly expanding its known size. The main image shows M31-V1's location within M31 (the Andromeda Galaxy), while the image at top right shows a close-up of the star and its busy neighborhood. [NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team]

Astounding Star
multiple views of a star that changed the universe
  • About StarDate
  • Underwriting
  • SkyTips Sign-Up
  • Change mailing address
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright and Usage
  • Contact

StarDate is brought to you in part through the generous support of our underwriters.
Interested in underwriting? Let us know

 

FacebookTwitterYouTube

©2022 The University of Texas McDonald Observatory


Source URL:https://legacy.stardate.org/astro-guide/gallery/changing-universe

Links
[1] https://legacy.stardate.org/astro-guide/gallery/changing-universe